Car unloading or dumping apparatus



E. M. HULL. CAR U NL'0ADIN G QR DUMPING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION-FILED APR. a, 1918.

Patented Dec. 6, .1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET L /N VEA/TOR.

A T TOR/VEV,

E M. HULL.

CAR UNLOADING 0R DUMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8. 1918.

a, U m m N 9 a N R 1... E. m wm 1Q W 7 in A A A e m n a d s .l .M 4 Hm m Q 3 m f 45 E. M. HULL. CAR UNLOADING 0R DUMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICAHON FILED APR. 8, 1918.

E. M. HULL. CAR UNLOADING 0R DUMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, I9I8- 1,399,484. Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

rare 'l' UNLOADING 0R DUMPING APPARATUS.

wearer.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. e. 1921i.

Application filed .ltpril. 8, 1913. serial. No. 227,209.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, EDMUND M. HULL, a citizen ot the United Eitates. residing at Buttal in the county of Erie and litate 0t New York, have invented a new and usctul Lnlprovement in Car Unloading or Dumping Apparatus, oi which the following; is a specification. This invention relates to apparatus tor dumping or unloading railway grain cars or other box cars having door openings in the sides thereof, and more particularly to apparatus whereby "ailway cars of this type are tilted or tipped both endwisc and wise for causing the grain or other loose material to tiow out ot the car through the side door opening, the ag iparatus lacing adapted to manipulate the car so as to cause the material to flow iirst from one end and then from the other end out through the door opening. i 1

Que object of the invention is to produce a practical apparatus tor this purpose which can he operated with the minimum power and labor and which is constructed so as to require a pit or vertical spaceot the minimum depth for the operation at the tilting; table which supports the car. @ther objects ot the invention are to provide counter-halancing means for the tilting car-supporting table which operate with a leverage or counterhalancinp; effect which increases as the inclination of the table troin the horizontal increases so that the table can he moved to and from its normal horizontal position with the minimum power; also to produce an apparatus i or the purpose mentioned in which the car -supporting table is arranged to tilt in one plane only so as to tip the car endwise, and is 1n-ovided with movable rail scc tie on which the car wheels rest. the movahlc rail sections at opposite sides of the track being movedsimultaneously, the one up and the other down for effecting; the sidewise tilting; oi the car; also to iprovide novel operating means actuated by hydraulic power for tilting the car-supporting]; table and tor oppositely moving the movable track sections for tilting; the car 'sidcwise; also to provide etii cient mechanism of novel construction tor holding the car stationary on the tilting carsupporting; table, and also to improve car unloading or dumping apparatus oi the kind mentioned in the respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

in the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation on a reduced scale of a car unloading or dumping apparatus embodying the invention showing the pit for the same in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one halt of the apparatus.

3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 1: is a transverse sectional elevation thcreo'l on line 4-4:, Fig. 3, showing the normal position of the parts.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the posi tion of the parts when. the car is tilted sidewise. r

6 is a detail section oi one of the rail operating eccentrics.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinalsectional elevation of the apparatus on line 7-7, Fig. 2, showing the abutment raised.

Figs. 8 and 9 are tragmentary similar views showing two different positions oi the abutment actuating mechanism.

'Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional. elevation of the apparatus on line 1O-.10 Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional elevation' showing the abutment holdingdog.

12 represents tilting car-supporting table or plattorm which ii-arriesa section of track and is pivotally supported centrally between two portions 13 and 1.4. of a railway track so that a car can be rolled on to the table and the table with the car supported thereon can he tilted from a ni'irrnal. horizon tal position to an inclined position, as shown. lay broken lines in. Fig. 1, for tilting the car endwise. The api iaratus is shown in the drawing); in connection with a surface railmy and the tilting table and its operating mechanism are lo 'ated in a concrete pit 15 in the ground. In the or se or"? the use oi the apparatus with an elevated railway the pit is unnecessary. The tilting table may be of any suitable construction. As shown in the drawings it consists of a :trame composed of longitudinal side girders 16, intermediate longitudinal girders 17 arranged parallel with, and between the side girders and suitahle transverse connecting beams 18. The side girders 16 shown are deeper than the intermediate girders and. are metal plate girders having channel beams 19 secured on their outer sides at the upper portion of the girders. Metal channel beams are employed for the intermediate girders. The opposite rails of the track on the tilting table are located in vertical planes between the side girders l6 and the intermediate girders 17.

The track of the tilting table is provided with fixed rail sections and 21 and four movable rail sections 22 arranged in two pairs, so that when a car is rolled into position on the table the wheels of the trucks at opposite ends of the car will rest on the four movable rail sections 22. One pair of the movable rail sections is shown in 2. There is a similar pair (not shown) at the opposite end of the tilting table. Each of these movable rail sections 22 is secured on a longitudinal stringer or beam 23 located and adapted to move up and down in the space between one of the side girders 16 and the adjacent intermediate girder 17. The stringers 23 are of box beam form, but they can be of any other suitable construction having the requisite strength, The stringers 23 for the oppositerail sections 22 of each pair are rigidlyconnected together by suitable transverse beams 23 extending beneath the intermediate girders 17. Each movable rail section 22 is supported by two cams or eccentrics located beneath the stringers 23 and secured in pairs on two transverse rock shafts 24; which are journaled in suitable bearings 24 on the tilting table or platform.

ferating the movable rail sections, preferably 25 and 26 indicate respectively the eccentrics for the opposite rail sections. The opposite cams or eccentrics 25 and 26 on each shaft 24 are oppositely disposed, that is with their portions of greatest throw extending in diametrically opposite directions from the axis of the shaft so that when the shafts 24: are rocked the rail section 22 supported by one pair of eccentrics 25 will'be elevated while the opposite rail section supported by the other pair of eccentrics 26 will be simul- The eccentrics 25 disite eccentrics 26 engage a spacing block 27, (Figs. 4c and 5) on the underside of the stringer, so that the opposite rail sections will be supported normally at the same level. The eccentrics are preferably provided with roller supported anti-friction rims or tires 26 (see Fig. 6) for reducing friction in the operation of the eccenti cs and these tires preferably have transversely convened peripheries to permit the necessary rocking engagement between the eccentrics and the stringer 23 and spacing block 27. The rail stringers 23 are preferably provided at their outer sides with curved guide plates 28 adapted tobear against rollers 29 suitably journaled on the side girders 16 for guiding the stringers andmovable rail sections and preventing lateral shifting of the same in their up and down movements. a The eccentric shafts 2d are rocked for op by hydraulic actuating mechanism constructedas follows :-30 represents a horizontal cylinder suitably supported on the middle portion of the tilting table. A piston working in this cylinder is provided with a piston rod 31 which extends out through the opposite ends of the cylinder and is connected at one end to a cross head 32 arranged to slide on suitable horizontal guide ways 33 on the tilting table. This cross head is connected by a rod 34 to an arm 35 secured to the adjacent rock shaft The two rock shafts 24 are connected to rock in unison by a rod 36 connecting ms 2%? sequrcd to the rock she fts. Thus, when the piston rod 31 is moved in one direction the two rock shafts 24 are rocked and the oppositely disposed eccentrics 25 and 26 on these shafts act to raise one side of the movable track section and lower the opposite side as indicated in Fig. 5, thereby tilting the car supported my the movable track sections in a transverse or sidewise direction. The eccentrics for the movable rail sections shown) at the opposite end of the tilt ing table are rocked simultaneously with the eccentrics shown, preferably by connecting their reel: shafts 24- in a similar way to the opposite end of the piston rod 31. Actuat ing liquid under pressure can be admitted to and discharged from the cylinder 30 for operating the eccentrics by any suitable pipe connection and controlling valves not shown.

The tilting table 12 can he pivotally sup- Jorted between its ends in any suitable way so as to tip or tilt endwise. As shown, the table is provided at opposite sides midway between its ends with pivot trunnions 38 which rest and are adapted to rock in suitable bearings 39 on a stationary support 40 in the pit The table is tilted or swung from the horizontal to an inclined position and returned, preferably by two hydraulic cylinders i i-1, ll, which are arranged in the at opposite sides of the pivotal support lo: the ta lc. These cylinders are suitably hinged at their lower ends in the pit and are provided with pistons having rods 42 which extend through the upper heads of the cylinders and are suitably hinged at their upper ends to the tilting table at opposite sides of its pivotal support. By admitting liquid under pressure to the cylinder ll beneath its piston and permitting the escape of the liquid from the lower end of the other cylinder ll the table is tilted in the direction shown in Fig. 1. By admitting the actuating liquid to the cylinder 41. and permitting its escape from the other cylinder 41, the table is returned to its horizontal position or can be tilted in the opposite direction from the horizontal position. Any suitable liquid connections and controlling valves for this purpose can be employed.

43 and at represent two pairs of pendant weights for counterbalancing the weight of the tilting table and the car supported thereon when tilting the table. These weights at opposite sides thereot.

rasaasa are arranged in pairs in the pit adjacent to the opposite ends ot' the tilting table and. l' lach weight is hung by a swinging lever or frame ib which pivotally mounted between its ends in the pit pii'el'eral'aly by an able stand 413 and on a l caring in the adjacent wall oi? the pit and each weight lever or frame provided with an arcuate upper end ill. it flexible band or strap 48 is tastoned at one end to the inner end oi the curved edge of each lever extends around said curved edge and is secured at its opposite end to a sud or part 4:9 projecting laterally from the adjacent endott the tilting table. ll hen the table is tilted in the direction indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1, the bands or straps connected to the levers t of the two counterlntlancing weights ill at one end oi the table SW111Z upwardly away from the curved edges of the levers, as indicated in 11 15.1. i, without rocking this pair of levers o l v"o' H r vo ol to n l i .1 no, rim in, he u emits inc cownu a1 t movement of the opposite end 01 the table,

however, pulling on the straps at that end of the table swings the adjacent pair of weight levers 41$, :ausing the weights 4d at this end of the table to swing upwardly :From their normal pendant positions. Since the weights in swinging upwardly move farther and farther away from the vertical, the farther the table is tilted, while the pull of the straps on the lovers is always substantially tangential to their curved edges, the we'qlits have a counterbalancing effect which increases with the increasing tilting of the table. 1

tin account of the weights operating as described to counterbalancethe unbalanced weight of the table and car, the pow-r re quired for tilting and righting); the table is greatly reduced and comparatively small cylinders l-fl, 4:1 can be used and they can be located relatively close to the central. pivotal support for the table which permits shorter cylinders to be used. Thisarrangement enables the table to be tilted to the required angle in a pit of less depth than would be possible with the table tilting cylinders located n later the ends of the table. The cost of construction and installation oil the apparatus is therefore correspondingly reduced.

50 and 51 represent two abutments or holding); devices adapted to be moved into engagement with the couplers or other suit able parts on opposite ends oi the for holding: the ca :lrom cndwise movementon the table 12. Thesoabutments are mounted to swing" up and down vertically on carriages which are movable horizontally toward and from each other on the table. in the operation of the abutments they are first raised topositions opposite the couplers and the carriages are then drawn toward each other to press the abutments toii'cibly against the 1' anie bearing; on a Stillcouplers and thus clamp the car firmly be tween the two abutments. fhe abutments and their operating; mechanisms at the opposite ends of the tilting; table are alike, e20 cept that they are oppositely arranged, and only one is herein shown in detail and described. in the construction shown each abutment consists of a metal frame composed of parallel vertical side plates connected by suitable cross plates or members and a downward skeleton extension or bracket 52 termed by suitable bars secured to the side plates and to each other. The abutment is provided with rigid radial arms 53 which. are pivoted at one end at 53 to a iorizontal slide or carriage 54; preferably comp sed of site channel bars 55 connected by end cross pieces 56 and arranged to slide horizontally in stationary parallel guides 57 on thetiltinp; table 12 58 is a cross head which is arranged to slide lengthwise in the carriage 54 on suitable guides 59 and is con-- nccted by chains or other suitable flexible members 60 to the extension 52 ol the abutment. "These chains pass over idl r pulleys G1 suitably journaled in the carriage 54;.

he cross head 58 is connected to a piston rod 62 which extends through the inner end oi the carriage and is provided at its inner end with a piston arranged to work in a horizontal hydraulic cylinder 63 suitably mounted on the tilting table 12., In the normal or inoperative position o the abutment, it hangs down between the side bars of the carriage 54 with its upper end low enough to permit the car to run onto the track of the tilting table over the abutment. After the car has been moved into position on the tilting table 12, operating}; liquid under pressure is admitted to the outer end of the cylinder 63, causing; the piston rod 62 and the cross head 58 connected thereto to move inwardly. The movement of the cross head is transmitted by the chains 60 to the abut" ment which is thus swung up from the position shown in Fig. 3, to the raised position shown in Figs. 5 and 7. "When the cross head has been moved far enough to thus raise the abutment, it engages the inner end of the carriage 54: and the carriage with the abutment thereon is moved bodily inward by the continued inward movement of the piston rod and cross head, thereby drawing the abutment horizontally firmly against the coupler or other engaging part of the car. (it represents a dog pivoted on the carriage 54: and having; a toothed end. arranged to travel over a stationary horizontal toothed bar 65 on the tilting; table beneath the carriage 54. 7 When the carriage is moved in wardly, as explainech the toothed end of this dog," will engage with one or another oi the teeth on the bar 65, depending upon the ex" tent of movement of the carriage and will rigidly hold the carriage and abutment ire against outward movement away from the car. The dog 6% can be operated by gravity or by means of a spring. When it is desired to return the abutment to its normal loweredposition to release the car, the piston is caused to move outwardly in the cylinder 63 by, the appropriate control of the piston actuating liquid. The piston rod 672 then moves outwardly relatively to the carriage 54. In this movement of the piston rod the cross head 58 engages the curved outer end of the dog 64 and swings it so as to lift its toothed end out of engagement with the toothed bar 65, thereby releasing the carriage. The cross head then, by engagement with a hook or shoulder 66 on the outer end of the dog, see Fig. 8, returns the carriage 54 to its initial outer position. As the carriage approaches the limit of its outward movement the toothed end of the dog 64: is lifted by engagement with a cam or incline G'Yat th outer end of the toothed bar 65 and the hook 66 is thus disengaged from the cross head 58, permitting the piston rod and cross head to continue their outward movement independently of the carriage 54. The

outward movement of the piston rod relative to the carriage 541: permits the chain 60 to run over the pulleys and lower the abutment from its raised position.

dog or pawl 68, Figs. 7 and 11, is preferably employed for engaging the abutment 50 when it has been lifted to its operative position and holding it rigidly in this position. This pawl as shown, is secured to a shaft 69 journaled on the outerend oi the abutment carriage and is adapted to engage at its upper free; end a cross piece or part on the abutment. The pawl can be swung into engagement with the abutment bygravity or by means of a suitable spring.

The pawl shaft 69 is provided with an arm 71 which depends at one side of the carriage. When the carriage approaches'thelimit of its outward movement this", arm strikes the end cross bar or other suitable part on the tilting table and swings the pawl 68 out of engagement; with the abutment, so as to permit the abutment to swing downwardly on the carriage to its lower inoperative position; The two abutments at the opposite ends of thetilting table are operated simultaneously in the manner described to engage and release the car. l

. 72 represents a boltjsecured to the outer end of each abutment carriage 54: and adapted to passthrough aguide hole in the end cross barof the tilting table 12. When the tilting table is in its normal horizontal position-and the abutment carriage is moved outwardly to release the car, as above explained, this belt 72 will be projected into a recessin a keeper 73 secured on the end wall of thepit or other suitable part of the stationary track structure and the tilting table will thus be located in its horizontal position against tipping.

I claim as my invent1on:

1. In a car unloading apparatus, the comination of a pivoted table, opposite movar car-supporting rails on said table, fluid pressure actuated mechanism supported by said table for moving said rails simultaneously relatively to said table, one upwardly and the other downwardly to tilt the car sidewisc, and means for tilting said table endwise.

2 In a car unloading apparatus, the combination of a pivoted table, opposite movable car-supporting rails on said table, hydraulic cylinders and mechanism supported by said table for moving said rails simultaneously, one upwardly and the other downwardly for tilting the car sidewise, and means for tilting said table and the carsupporting rails endwise.

3. In a car unloading apparatus, the combinauion of a table, opposite movable carsupporting rails on said table, cams supporting said rails, mechanism for operating said cams for simultaneously moving one of said rails upwardly and the other downwardly for tilting the car sidewise, and means for tilting said table endwise.

4. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination or" a table, a track thereon having opposite fixed rail sections and opposite movable rail sections, mechanism for moving said opposite movable rail sections simultaneously one upwardly and the other downwardly for tilting the car sidewise, and means for tilting said table endwise.

5. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination of a table, a track thereon having opposite fixed rail sections and opposite movable rail sections, opposite cams, mechanism for operating said cams for moving saidopposite movable rail sections simultaneously one upwardly and the other downwardly or tilting the car sidewise, and means for tilting said table endwise.

6. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination of a table having longitudinal spaced girders, stringers arranged to move upwardly and downwardly in the spaces between said girders, rails carried by said stringers, cams, mechanism for operating said cams for simultaneously moving one of said stringers upwardly and the other downwardly for tilting the car sidewise, and means for tilting the table endwise.

7. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination of a table having longitudinal spaced girders, stringers arranged to move upwardly and downwardly in the spaces between said girders, rails carried by said stringers, cams, mechanism for operating said cams for simultaneously moving one of said stringers upwardly and the other downwardly for tilting the car sidewise, curved inoaaaa guides on said stringers, rollers on said girders against which said guides move, and means for tilting the table endwise.

8. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination of a table, means for tilting said table, counterbalancing weights for said table and its load, and connections between said table and weights tor moving one of said weights when the table is tilted in one direction and moving the other weight when the table is tilted in the opposite direction.

9, ln car unloading apparatus, the combination of a table pivoted between its ends, means for tilting said table, counterbalancing weights for said table and its load ranged adjacent to opposite ends ot the table, a lever carrying each of said weights and having-an arcuate face, and a flexible connection attached to each lever extending around said arcuate lace and attached to the adjacent end of the table for swinging said lever and weight when the table is tilted, whereby one weight is operative when the table is tilted in one direction and the other weight is operative when the table is tilted in the opposite direction.

10. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination of a centrally pivoted table, means for counterbalancing thew eight of the table and its load, hydraulic cylinders arranged at opposite sidesol the pivotal support for the table between the some and the ends of the table, and pistons in said cylinders and connected to the table and adapted to be actuated by liquid admitted to the cylinders for tilting the table. a

11. lln a car unloading apparatus, the combination oil a table, means for tilting the table, abutments for holding the car on the table, horizontally movable carriages on which said abutments are mounted to move vertically, and abutment actuating mechanism comprising hydraulic clyinders and connections which operate to first positively elevate the abutments on said carriages to operative position and thereafter move the carriage-s horizontally to move the abutments into holding engagement with the car.

12. In a car unloading apparatus, the

combination oil a table, means for tilting the table, abutments for holding the car on the table, horizontally movable carriages: on which said abutments are mounted to move vertically to and from positions above and below the upper surface of said table, and actuating mechanism for said abutments comprising actuating members, hydraulic cylinders and connections for moving said members relatively to said carriages, con nections between said members and said abutments lor positively elevating the abutments on the carriages, and cooperating parts on said actuating members and carriages for moving the carriages horizontally after the abutments are elevated.

13. lln a car unloading apparatus, the combination oi? a table, means for tilting the ble, abutments for holding the car on the to.- ble, horizontally novable carriages on which said abutments are mounted to move vertically to and from positions above and below the upper surface of said table, mechanism for elevating the abutments on the carriages and moving the carriages horizontally to draw the abutmcnts into holding engagement with the car, and dogs for holding the carriages from movement away from the car.

l ly. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination of a table, means for tilting the table, abutments for holding the car on the table, horizontally movable carriages on which said abutments are mounted to move vertically, mechanism for elevating the abutments on the carriages and moving the carriages horizontally to draw the abutments into holding engagement with the car, dogs for holding the carriages from movement away from the car, and means tor actuating said dogs to release the carriages.

15. In a car unloading apparatus, the com bination of a table, means for tilting the table, abutments tor holding the car on the table, horizontally movable carriages on which said abutment-s are mounted to move vertically, and actuating mechanism for said abutments comprising actuating members which are movable relatively to said carriages, connections between said members and said abutments for elevating the abutments on the carriages, coiiperating parts on said actuating members and. carriages for moving the carriages horizontally after the abutments are elevated,'dogs for holding the carriages from movement away from the car, said dogs being actuated by said actuating members to release the carriages when said actuating members are moved in a direction to return the carriages.

16.- lin a car unloading apparatus, the combination of a table, means for tilting the table, abutments movable on the table to ward and from the car for holding the car on the table, and locking devices for holding the table from tilting which are movable with said abutments for releasing and securing the table.

l Vitness my hand this 45th 1918.

EDMUND M. HULL.

Witnesses HENRY Kenn, l 1P. ll/lrsonrnn, Sr.

day of April, 

